News Analysis India

Tag: Himachal Pradesh

  • Himachal Pradesh polls: Nadda announces Uniform civil code, quota for women in govt jobs 

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday promised Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs in Himachal Pradesh while releasing the party’s manifesto for the state Assembly polls.

    With less than a week left for assembly polls in his home state, Nadda announced various soaps, including 8 lakh jobs, scooters for girls pursuing higher education and five new medical colleges.

    Releasing the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’, Nadda promised implementation of UCC in Himachal Pradesh if the party is voted to power and said a committee will be formed for it.

    At the same time, he said the BJP government will also conduct survey of Waqf properties in the state to check their illegal use.

    Focussing on women voters, Nadda released the party’s separate manifesto for them announcing 33 per cent reservation in government jobs. He also announced cycles for girl students in classes 6 to 12.

    Replying to a question, Nadda criticised the Congress manifesto — released on Saturday — saying it lacks both vision and weight.

    The BJP had formed a committee to take suggestions from the general public to draft the manifesto. The BJP is eyeing to change the trend of alternate governments in Himachal Pradesh. Elections for the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly will be held on November 12.

    SHIMLA: BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday promised Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs in Himachal Pradesh while releasing the party’s manifesto for the state Assembly polls.

    With less than a week left for assembly polls in his home state, Nadda announced various soaps, including 8 lakh jobs, scooters for girls pursuing higher education and five new medical colleges.

    Releasing the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’, Nadda promised implementation of UCC in Himachal Pradesh if the party is voted to power and said a committee will be formed for it.

    At the same time, he said the BJP government will also conduct survey of Waqf properties in the state to check their illegal use.

    Focussing on women voters, Nadda released the party’s separate manifesto for them announcing 33 per cent reservation in government jobs. He also announced cycles for girl students in classes 6 to 12.

    Replying to a question, Nadda criticised the Congress manifesto — released on Saturday — saying it lacks both vision and weight.

    The BJP had formed a committee to take suggestions from the general public to draft the manifesto. The BJP is eyeing to change the trend of alternate governments in Himachal Pradesh. Elections for the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly will be held on November 12.

  • Congress releases party manifesto for HP assembly polls

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: The Congress on Saturday released its manifesto for the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    The party has promised to implement the old pension scheme, 30 units of free power and Rs 10 crore ‘StartUp fund’ in each constituency.

    Others present at the party’s poll manifesto release included AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajeev Shukla, former PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and AICC secretaries Tejinder Pal Bittu and Manish Chatrath.

    Party’s poll manifesto committee chairman Dhani Ram Shandil said the BJP has failed to live up to the expectations of people and has not fulfilled the promises made five years ago.

    “This is not just a poll manifesto but a document prepared for the development and welfare of the people of Himachal Pradesh,” Shandil said.

    The Congress is banking on the anti-incumbency factor and urging voters not to reelect the BJP in the state.

    SHIMLA: The Congress on Saturday released its manifesto for the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    The party has promised to implement the old pension scheme, 30 units of free power and Rs 10 crore ‘StartUp fund’ in each constituency.

    Others present at the party’s poll manifesto release included AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajeev Shukla, former PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and AICC secretaries Tejinder Pal Bittu and Manish Chatrath.

    Party’s poll manifesto committee chairman Dhani Ram Shandil said the BJP has failed to live up to the expectations of people and has not fulfilled the promises made five years ago.

    “This is not just a poll manifesto but a document prepared for the development and welfare of the people of Himachal Pradesh,” Shandil said.

    The Congress is banking on the anti-incumbency factor and urging voters not to reelect the BJP in the state.

  • Two BJP leaders quit party, file papers as independents from Dharamshala

    By PTI

    DHARAMSHALA: Two senior BJP leaders here resigned from the party and filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

    Vipin Naihariya, the party’s ST Morcha vice president, and BJP district chief Anil Choudhry were ticket aspirants but the party chose OBC leader Rakesh Chaudhary over them and sitting MLA Vishal Naihariya.

    Meanwhile, the sitting MLA said he is with the party and expressed confidence in Rakesh Chaudhary.

    Vipin Naihariya, a Gaddi community leader, claimed that all office-bearers of the BJP’s Dharamshala Mandal have put in their papers in protest against the party ticket to Chaudhary.

    Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nominations, which can be withdrawn till October 29.

    The voting will take place on November 12 and the results will be declared on December 8.

    DHARAMSHALA: Two senior BJP leaders here resigned from the party and filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

    Vipin Naihariya, the party’s ST Morcha vice president, and BJP district chief Anil Choudhry were ticket aspirants but the party chose OBC leader Rakesh Chaudhary over them and sitting MLA Vishal Naihariya.

    Meanwhile, the sitting MLA said he is with the party and expressed confidence in Rakesh Chaudhary.

    Vipin Naihariya, a Gaddi community leader, claimed that all office-bearers of the BJP’s Dharamshala Mandal have put in their papers in protest against the party ticket to Chaudhary.

    Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nominations, which can be withdrawn till October 29.

    The voting will take place on November 12 and the results will be declared on December 8.

  • Cong banks on anti-incumbency, Virbhadra’s legacy in HP polls

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Riding on the anti-incumbency factor and raising issues like price rise and unemployment, the Congress in Himachal Pradesh is banking on the legacy of Virbhadra Singh to stage a comeback in the hill state.

    The grand old party is, however, faced with internal rumblings and defections of some of its old timers in the recent past that may affect its performance at the hustings.

    Though the party has fielded some young leaders, including former chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s son Vikramaditya and ex-minister B D Bali’s son Raghubir Bali, it failed to field some of its Youth Congress leaders in the November 12 assembly polls.

    Besides, the presence of a tall leader like Virbhadra Singh, who has steered the party to many a victory, is missing this time, even though the party is banking on his legacy as his wife Pratibha Singh is leading the charge currently.

    The party has also made a host of promises to woo the voters in the state.

    These include restoration of old pension scheme, 300 units of free power, payment of Rs 1,500 to women and government jobs to all those working on outsourced employment, which are catching the attention of voters so far.

    Himachal has seen alternate governments of the BJP and the Congress for many decades now and that is what the Congress has pinned its hopes on.

    NEW DELHI: Riding on the anti-incumbency factor and raising issues like price rise and unemployment, the Congress in Himachal Pradesh is banking on the legacy of Virbhadra Singh to stage a comeback in the hill state.

    The grand old party is, however, faced with internal rumblings and defections of some of its old timers in the recent past that may affect its performance at the hustings.

    Though the party has fielded some young leaders, including former chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s son Vikramaditya and ex-minister B D Bali’s son Raghubir Bali, it failed to field some of its Youth Congress leaders in the November 12 assembly polls.

    Besides, the presence of a tall leader like Virbhadra Singh, who has steered the party to many a victory, is missing this time, even though the party is banking on his legacy as his wife Pratibha Singh is leading the charge currently.

    The party has also made a host of promises to woo the voters in the state.

    These include restoration of old pension scheme, 300 units of free power, payment of Rs 1,500 to women and government jobs to all those working on outsourced employment, which are catching the attention of voters so far.

    Himachal has seen alternate governments of the BJP and the Congress for many decades now and that is what the Congress has pinned its hopes on.

  • At least 31 people killed, 22 in Himachal, following rain triggered flash floods and landslides

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: More than 30 people were reported killed following flash floods and landslides in parts of the country on Saturday.

    Rain wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha and Jharkhand. 

    At least 31 people were killed, 22 of them in Himachal Pradesh alone, as heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods, landslides, and house collapses, upending normal life across large swathes of the country.

    The fatalities included four each in Uttarakhand and Odisha, and one in Jharkhand.

    Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh since Friday caused landslides and flash floods, with officials saying 22 people, including eight members of a family, died.

    Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appealed to the government of Himachal Pradesh to provide all possible help to those affected by flash floods and landslides in the state.

    “There has been heavy destruction in Himachal Pradesh due to landslides, cloudbursts and floods. News of mishaps coming from different parts of the state is very saddening,” Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi.

    “I appeal to the government to provide all possible help to those affected as soon as possible. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.

    Gandhi also expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

    NEW DELHI: More than 30 people were reported killed following flash floods and landslides in parts of the country on Saturday.

    Rain wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha and Jharkhand. 

    At least 31 people were killed, 22 of them in Himachal Pradesh alone, as heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods, landslides, and house collapses, upending normal life across large swathes of the country.

    The fatalities included four each in Uttarakhand and Odisha, and one in Jharkhand.

    Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh since Friday caused landslides and flash floods, with officials saying 22 people, including eight members of a family, died.

    Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appealed to the government of Himachal Pradesh to provide all possible help to those affected by flash floods and landslides in the state.

    “There has been heavy destruction in Himachal Pradesh due to landslides, cloudbursts and floods. News of mishaps coming from different parts of the state is very saddening,” Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi.

    “I appeal to the government to provide all possible help to those affected as soon as possible. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.

    Gandhi also expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

  • Himachal Pradesh BJP leader Indu Verma joins Congress

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP leader and former chairperson of the Family and Child Welfare Board in Himachal Pradesh Indu Verma on Friday joined the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections slated to be held later this year.

    She is the wife of three-time former legislator Rakesh Verma.

    The family has a hold in the Shimla district.

    She also runs the ‘Mahila Jagrukta Manch’ an NGO in the state.

    Welcoming her into the Congress fold, All India Congress Committee Secretary in charge of Himachal Pradesh Rajiv Shukla said her entry would help the party in forthcoming polls.

    The BJP is facing desertions after the recent bye-elections in which the people did not favour the party.

    The BJP will be defeated in the next assembly elections, he said.

    Shukla also announced the Congress will on July 27 launch the ‘Yuva Rozgar Yatra’ from Dharamshala to create awareness among the youth about the unemployment situation and try to convince them that the party will create job opportunities if voted to power.

    He also said that if elected to power, the Congress will bring back the old pension system for government employees in the state.

    NEW DELHI: BJP leader and former chairperson of the Family and Child Welfare Board in Himachal Pradesh Indu Verma on Friday joined the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections slated to be held later this year.

    She is the wife of three-time former legislator Rakesh Verma.

    The family has a hold in the Shimla district.

    She also runs the ‘Mahila Jagrukta Manch’ an NGO in the state.

    Welcoming her into the Congress fold, All India Congress Committee Secretary in charge of Himachal Pradesh Rajiv Shukla said her entry would help the party in forthcoming polls.

    The BJP is facing desertions after the recent bye-elections in which the people did not favour the party.

    The BJP will be defeated in the next assembly elections, he said.

    Shukla also announced the Congress will on July 27 launch the ‘Yuva Rozgar Yatra’ from Dharamshala to create awareness among the youth about the unemployment situation and try to convince them that the party will create job opportunities if voted to power.

    He also said that if elected to power, the Congress will bring back the old pension system for government employees in the state.

  • Polytechnic student murdered in Himachal Pradesh, body cut into pieces

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: A polytechnic student was found murdered in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Thursday, police said.

    Ankit Kumar’s body was cut into two and the body parts were stuffed in two gunny bags and dumped at separate places in Jhanduta sub-division, Bilaspur Superintendent of Police S R Rana said.

    Kumar, a resident of Samoh village, was missing since July 13, Jhanduta MLA Jeet Ram Katwal said.

    He was studying at a polytechnic college at Kalol.

    During search of the missing student, police received information that a body had been found at a deserted place in Samoh, about 500 metres away from Kumar’s house, Rana said.

    When police reached there, they found the lower part of the body in a gunny bag, he said, adding it was in a highly decomposed condition.

    Kumar’s father Prakash Chand identified his son from a mark on his leg, the SP said.

    Within half an hour, the police found the upper part of the body in the forests of the Baroha area in another gunny bag, he said.

    Rana said a team of the state forensic science laboratory (SFSL), Mandi will collect the evidence from the spots.

    The police have got some leads in the case which cannot be shared at this moment, he said.

    Expressing hope to solve the murder case soon, the SP said efforts are on to question some suspects.

    MLA Katwal, while expressing his condolences to the grieved family, urged the people to remain alert to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

    SHIMLA: A polytechnic student was found murdered in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Thursday, police said.

    Ankit Kumar’s body was cut into two and the body parts were stuffed in two gunny bags and dumped at separate places in Jhanduta sub-division, Bilaspur Superintendent of Police S R Rana said.

    Kumar, a resident of Samoh village, was missing since July 13, Jhanduta MLA Jeet Ram Katwal said.

    He was studying at a polytechnic college at Kalol.

    During search of the missing student, police received information that a body had been found at a deserted place in Samoh, about 500 metres away from Kumar’s house, Rana said.

    When police reached there, they found the lower part of the body in a gunny bag, he said, adding it was in a highly decomposed condition.

    Kumar’s father Prakash Chand identified his son from a mark on his leg, the SP said.

    Within half an hour, the police found the upper part of the body in the forests of the Baroha area in another gunny bag, he said.

    Rana said a team of the state forensic science laboratory (SFSL), Mandi will collect the evidence from the spots.

    The police have got some leads in the case which cannot be shared at this moment, he said.

    Expressing hope to solve the murder case soon, the SP said efforts are on to question some suspects.

    MLA Katwal, while expressing his condolences to the grieved family, urged the people to remain alert to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

  • Rain, thunderstorm likely in Himachal Pradesh for next three days

    By PTI

    DHARAMSHALA: Thunderstorm and rain along with light hailstorm is expected to be seen in parts of Himachal Pradesh from Monday to Wednesday, bringing a respite from the prevailing heat spell.

    Rain and snowfall is likely in higher altitude areas of the state, the Meteorological department said in Shimla on Monday. Due to fresh Western Disturbance in mid troposphere levels with its axis at 5.8 km above mean sea level, light to moderate thunderstorm or rainfall is expected, it said.

    Una was the hottest place in the state on Sunday with maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius followed by 41 degrees in Kangra, 40 degrees in Hamirpur, 39.2 degrees in Bilaspur, 39 degrees in Chamba, 37.7 degrees in Sundernagar, 37.5 degrees in Nahan and Bhunter, 37.2 degrees in Solan, 37 degrees in Dharamshala, 34.1 degrees in Palampur and 30.5 degrees Celsius in Shimla.

  • Man arrested from Punjab for tying Khalistani flags at Himachal Pradesh assembly gate

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Police on Wednesday arrested a man from Punjab for putting up Khalistan flags on the main gate of the winter state assembly in Dharamshala and scrawling slogans on its walls, the state chief minister said.

    The man had allegedly tied the flags of the secessionist group on Sunday — an act which was condemned across party lines. Search for a second accused is on and he will be caught soon, CM Jai Ram Thakur said.

    In a statement issued here Wednesday, Thakur informed media about the police breakthrough which arrested one Harvir Singh from Punjab in the morning.

    ALSO READ: Congress seeks arrest of Khalistani leader Pannun for threats to Himachal

    Singh has confessed to have put up the Khalistani flag and vandalising the outer wall of the HP Vidhan Sabha complex at Dharamshala with separatist slogans, he said.

    Thakur said that the police while arresting Singh followed all procedures and the rule of law complete with an arrest warrant secured from a competent court.

    The Himachal Pradesh Police had booked ‘Sikhs for Justice’ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and had sealed the state’s borders in response. SFJ is an extremist group based abroad that has been demanding a separate Khalistan.

    ALSO READ: Himachal borders sealed; Pannun booked over Khalistani flags outside assembly

  • ‘AAP may have received funding from Khalistani leader’, alleges HP Congress leader

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh on Tuesday alleged that Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun might have played an important role in funding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

    Pratibha Singh in a statement asked the AAP to reveal its sources of funding.

    Terming her statement “unfortunate”, state AAP spokesperson Gaurav Sharma said, “People who live in houses of glass, do not throw stones at others houses.”

    “AAP’s popularity and base is on the rise in Himachal Pradesh, that is why both, the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, are feeling insecure,” he said. “That is why, Pratibha Singh is issuing baseless statement regarding AAP’s funding which does not suit her,” Sharma said.

    Pratibha Singh also expressed concern over ‘Sikh For Justice’ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s threat to Himachal Pradesh in an audio message and called for his immediate arrest. She said it was “shameful” that the foreign-based extremist is issuing open threats to the country and the state, but the government was “doing nothing”.

    Pratibha Singh, an MP from Mandi, said Pannun has earlier also threatened the state government but nothing was done even then.

    Dismissing her charges as futile, Sharma said there was a need to handle “the anti-national forces” collectively in the “national and the state interest”. He said that AAP has been demanding Pannun’s arrest for a long time.

    Earlier, Pannun in an audio messages threatened the state chief minister of violence in the state if he stops the raising of the Khalistani flag in Dharamshala.

    In his message, he boasted about the Monday RPG attack at Punjab Police intelligence headquarters in Mohali, and said “it could have been Shimla also”.